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Biomedical subjects

J S Nosanchuk

Publications and source records attributed to J S Nosanchuk.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Quantitative microbiologic study of blood salvaged by intraoperative membrane filtration.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the sterility of blood salvaged intraoperatively by a new membrane filtration system for transfusion. DESIGN: Quantitative microbiologic cultures were prospectively collected from units of blood acquired by intraoperative membrane filtration from 18 patients undergoing elective spinal surgery. Medical records were reviewed for adverse events. SETTING: A 204-bed, medical school-affiliated community hospital. RESULTS: Quantitative blood cultures were sterile in 12 of 31 units of recovered blood. Of the 19 positive units, 17 units grew only 1 colony-forming unit (CFU)/mL, 1 unit grew 2 CFU/mL, and 1 unit grew 5 CFU/mL. The only organisms isolated were diphtheroids, coagulase-negative staphylococci, and micrococci. No patient experienced postoperative sepsis. CONCLUSIONS: Blood recovered by intraoperative membrane filtration is microbiologically equivalent to blood salvaged by continuous flow. Because no perfusionist and no expensive capital equipment are required, the technique is amenable to small and medium-sized hospitals that otherwise might financially be unable to provide intraoperative blood salvage.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Cost analysis of point-of-care laboratory testing in a community hospital.

Point-of-care testing (POCT) is a means of providing patient services more rapidly. Most evaluations of bedside laboratory testing devices have emphasized analytical performance in tertiary care settings. In contrast, the authors compare the operating cost of POCT for glucose and an electrolyte/glucose/blood urea nitrogen chemistry panel with the cost of central laboratory stat testing in a 204-bed community hospital. In scenarios studied, POCT costs exceed central laboratory stat costs from 1.1 to 4.6 times. The more POCT is used, the greater the excess costs compared to the central laboratory. Cost analysis demonstrates that the investment in acquiring automated transport and data management systems for the authors' hospital was far less expensive than POCT for both an individual stat test and on an annual cost basis. The authors urge fiscal caution before indiscriminately implementing POCT.

Blood Chemical Analysis↗
PubMed1995

Case report of and description of parasite in Mammomonogamus laryngeus (human syngamosis) infection.

About 100 cases of human infections with Mammomonogamus laryngeus (Syngamidae, Syngaminae) have been reported, with virtually all cases originating in the Caribbean Islands and Brazil. This report describes the fifth patient in North America infected with M. laryngeus and the first case documented to originate in Jamaica. The patient complained of a characteristic persistent nonproductive cough and a lump in her throat. M. laryngeus is a nematode in which the male and female are permanently joined in copula, producing a distinctive Y shape. Since there is scant clinical information about this parasite, this report includes a description of the adult worms and eggs, a summary of the epidemiology, and the clinical manifestations in humans. Illustrations are presented to facilitate future identification of this parasite and to expedite treatment.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Fine-needle aspiration of spleen: diagnosis of a solitary ovarian metastasis.

We report a patient in whom a solitary splenic lesion detected by computed tomography (CT) was successfully diagnosed by fine-needle aspiration biopsy under CT guidance. The ability to distinguish metastatic carcinoma from lymphoma in the spleen assisted the clinician in making therapeutic decisions. Fine-needle aspiration of spleen is a reasonable diagnostic approach that has been underutilized.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1982

Transfusion malaria: treatment with exchange transfusion after delayed diagnosis.

A 65-year-old woman was rehospitalized for increasing mental confusion 16 days after open heart surgery for mitral stenosis. A diagnosis of transfusion-acquired falciparum malaria was made from a routine peripheral blood smear 24 hours after admission. Because progressive encephalopathy developed while she was receiving antimalarial drugs, a therapeutic exchange transfusion was performed. Clinical improvement occurred promptly during the exchange, and the patient went on to complete recovery from her malaria. The putative blood donor involved met the currently accepted standards for blood donors.

Aged↗
PubMed1981

Capillary gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric determination of histamine in tuna fish causing scombroid poisoning.

A documented case of "scombroid poisoning" is reported by confirming the presence of high histamine levels in fresh tuna fish tissues by gas chromatography- mass spectrometry. Histamine is confirmed by in situ trimethylsilylation of the tissue extract on a 12-m SP 2100- fused-silica capillary column connected directly to a mass spectrometer ion source operated in the positive ion chemical ionization mode using methane as reactant gas. The trimethylsilyl derivative of histamine is readily resolved by a high-resolution fused-silica capillary column and confirmed in the complex tissue extract by this very simple but specific procedure.

Animals↗
PubMed1980

An automated blood smear analysis system. Clinical experience and performance.

A detailed clinical evaluation of the diff3 system for examining peripheral blood smears was performed over a six-month period in a service hematology laboratory in a large teaching hospital. The diff3 automatically classifies 11 categories of nucleated cells; qualitatively evaluates erythrocyte size, shape, and color; estimates platelet and leukocyte count; and generates a quantitative estimate of platelet number. The analyzer contains a system for signaling abnormal or suspicious slides for technologist review. As many as 14 slides can be processed in sequence without operator attendance. Throughput averages 33 slides/hour in no review mode. The analyzer produced similar in-run and day-to-day precision when examining a wide variety of blood smears. Morphologic evaluation of nucleated and non-nucleated blood cells correlated with that of technologists. The diff3's normal range compared closely with that obtained by senior technologists examining conventional smears. Band counts, while somewhat higher, did not lead to judgement errors in left-shift direction. The diff3's sensitivity to recognizing abnormal smears was virtually identical to that of technologists with a false-positive level only slightly greater than theirs; diff3's false negatives were equal in frequency to those experienced by technologists.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

Elevation of brain-type creatine kinase in serum from patients with carcinoma.

The brain isoenzyme of creatine kinase (CK BB) occurs in trace amounts in normal serum and is moderately increased in only a small number of non-oncological conditions. Although many tissues and tumors contain CK BB, we observed serum elevations only in certain carcinomas. Eleven patients with tissue-proven small cell anaplastic carcinoma (SCAC) of the lung had striking elevations of serum CK BB and no evidence of central nervous system (CNS) metastases. Significant increases were also observed in three cases of prostatic carcinoma with no apparent CNS involvement, and in one case each of adenocarcinoma and SCAC of the lung with proven CNS metastases. Three patients with SCAC of lung without distant metastases, three with SCAC of the esophagus with distant metastases but no known CNS involvement, and 17 patients with oncological conditions other than SCAC of the lung or adenocarcinoma of the prostate have failed to show elevation in serum CK BB activity. Serum CK BB may be useful as a diagnostic marker or indicator of metastases for some carcinomas.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1979

The effect of smudge cells on leukocyte counting--are chamber counts necessary?

Leukocyte counts obtained in the Coulter Model S and Model F were compared with counts from hemocytometers and estimates from peripheral blood smears from 38 patients with increased numbers of smudge cells associated with chronic lymphocytic leukemia, with leukemias other than chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and without leukemia. The results indicate no method-dependent pattern of count loss. Cell counts were not related to the number of smudge cells present; the number of smudge cells were unrelated to the nature of the patient's disease state. We conclude that in the presence of smudge cells, leukocyte counts can be made as reliably by automated methods as by pipette and chamber technics. This conclusion is at variance with what has been previously reported. Although the basis for this discrepancy is not clear, it may be related in part to differences in the formulation of the lysing agents used.

Adolescent↗